Little did I know, Jon wasn't ready to give up on us. He pursued me relentlessly, sending me beautiful flowers and heartfelt letters. As I reflected and prayed, I realized that I had made a mistake. I had let fear control my actions, and I hadn't given our relationship a fair chance. So, we decided to start fresh and give it another shot.

We faced the challenges of a long-distance relationship for the next eight months. Jon was stationed in the desert and later went on a six-month deployment. It wasn't easy, but our love for each other and our faith in God kept us going. In June of 2023, I once again let my anxiety get the best of me and ended things with Jon. I thought it was for good this time as I couldn't shake the feeling of being unsettled and unsure of what I wanted.

During our time apart, we both dated other people, but deep down, we knew that our hearts still longed for each other. I knew since I had been conflicted for so long, it wouldn't be wise to initiate contact with Jon again, especially after everything I had put him through. I promised myself that I would not reach out and instead I pleaded with God, "Please bring him back to me if you want us together. I'm not touching this ever again." 

November 12th my phone buzzed and to my utter shock…it was Jon, just checking in and letting me know he was back in San Diego! He shared that he felt like our story was unfinished, and he wanted to see if there was still a chance for us. We talked for hours, sharing our experiences and feelings. And it became clear that God wasn't done with us yet.

We decided to meet in person, and as soon as we did, it felt like no time had passed. As I looked at  the man I had drug through the proverbial mud of my emotional turmoil; the man who had been nothing but patient, steady, persistent, respectful, and loving since the day I met him; the man who I now realized is the only man who has ever truly earned my heart - all I could think was "wow, I love him." 

An hour together came to a close and Jon asked me, "so what is it that you want?" My honest answer was that I still loved him. I tearfully told him he was still my best friend; that I couldn't close my eyes and imagine a future without him in it, nor did I want to; that I couldn't pray for my future husband without immediately picturing him and missing everything about him; and that I also understood that I made a very hurtful decision a few months ago that I might just have to live with.

He calmly, collectedly, and thoughtfully said "okay," leaving me wondering what would happen next. As we walked to my car, we made plans to have lunch the next day. We said our goodbyes with a warm hug. And just when I thought enough surprises had occurred, he kissed me! It was followed by a sweet admission of how much he had missed me over the last six months. Swoon.

And the rest, my friends, is pretty much history. Jon and I both agreed that we were either in or out for the long haul this time. Since then, our relationship has been filled with confidence, peace, and excitement. Jon surprised me with a proposal on December 22nd, on Coronado Island, a place that holds special meaning for us. We are grateful for God's faithfulness in bringing us back together, and we believe that our shared faith in Jesus is the foundation of our love. We look forward to the future and the ways in which our marriage can bring glory to Him. Our love story is proof that God works in mysterious and beautiful ways, and we are forever grateful for His guidance and blessing in our lives."